Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 512 Before Returning to the Clan
————Housekeeper
The pale-faced and beardless Eunuch Wei's gaze fell on the hydrological charts on the table, his eyes filled with doubt.

"I remember when the Southern King's disciple went in alone last time, the damage to the Moon Marrow Golden Ointment Pool didn't seem to be this severe?"

Upon hearing Wei Dajian's question, the official in red robes beside him thought for a moment before respectfully replying, "It is said that the Southern King bestowed upon the Marquis of Yong another Yu-rank cultivation technique, which may be somewhat different from the previous ones."

"Another one?" Wei Dajian sighed inwardly, shaking his head almost imperceptibly. If he remembered correctly, this should be the third Yu-rank cultivation technique that Marquis Yong had switched to.

In this light, the Marquis who was picked up by the Southern King is far less impressive than Shen Lingfeng back then. Even with his Mingxing Xuanshu Body and ability to enter the Guixu Spring in the Outer Sea, his chances of achieving Nascent Soul status are not very optimistic.

"Could it be the son-in-law of the Fei family in Yingzhou?" Wei Dajian thought for a moment and realized it wasn't impossible. To be born in a remote area, with inferior talent and no connections, yet still manage to advance to the upper level of cultivation and achieve a middle-grade elixir—no matter how you look at it, he must be hiding some secrets.

However, both of them were poor cultivators favored by Emperor Wei. The eunuch supervisor should keep this in mind. It would be better to pry and invite the emperor's questioning.

After all, the two of them weren't entirely without support. If Supervisor Wei made things too messy, there would be quite a few loose ends to follow, so it was better to play dumb.

Unfortunately, the powerful families in the capital region coerced the late emperor to dismantle the magical artifact, the Taiyin Wangshu Wheel, which had been placed around the Moon Marrow Golden Ointment Pool.

Otherwise, no matter what happened inside this time, those minor Golden Core cultivators would have no way to cover it up, and Supervisor Wei would be able to see through it all.

After some further thought, Eunuch Wei put down the silk scroll in his hand, abandoning the idea of ​​recording the matter, and instead whispered to the eunuch in red robes:

"Go to the Inner Palace Bureau and have someone increase the amount of Spirit Nourishing Powder allocated to the Moon Marrow Golden Ointment Pool by 30% within this sixty-year period. That should be fine."

The latter respectfully acknowledged the gesture, and after seeing Wei Dajian's hand gesture, he withdrew and left.

In the huge public room, only Grand Eunuch Wei remained. This head eunuch had no time to sit idly. This year was his year of governance, and there were still many documents piled up, which would soon exhaust him.

"The profits from the sixteen mines along the Yuwang Road have decreased by another 30% in the past sixty years,"

"Shu Zhengde, the Imperial Guard General of Shanbei, said that Zhaixinglou is stirring up trouble and wants to ask for troops?"

"The number of guards at the Imperial Horse Administration in Liangxi Circuit is insufficient, and the various members of the imperial clan are not responding quickly enough. The Master of Qingyu Tower is already inquiring about the situation."

After flipping through the pages, Eunuch Wei frowned even more, unable to find a single good thing among them.

Shu Zhengde's request for troops is not his concern for the time being. Since Grand Commandant Han Hegui achieved the Golden Core stage at Kuang Liuting, he has been able to spare some time to attend to his business. Although the royal family of Wei Da is somewhat desolate, the military preparedness around Taiyuan Capital is still relatively well-organized, so Han Hegui should not be bothered by such a small matter.
Because of their historically weak strength, the two Nascent Soul sects of Yuwangdao were quite respectful to the central government in the past, which allowed the Inner Palace Supervisor to send eunuchs and establish mines.

However, since the frequent actions of that person from Lanmeng Palace, the once stable revenue of this inner court has begun to fluctuate. But the saved portion of spirit ore shouldn't have much to do with those two Nascent Soul sects. If it's not sent to Xuanqiong Palace, then it will naturally be sent to Lanmeng Palace.

The lands of the outer seas are vast, even surpassing the twenty-seven continents of the David Dynasty. However, the places rich in spiritual resources are scattered throughout the lands, while the barren and frigid lands are difficult to fathom.

Even so, the one in Lanmeng Palace had already accumulated the strength of a dragon and the might of a tiger. Over a thousand years, his resources had become as abundant as mountains of grain and clouds of fodder, which was incomparable to the current David Zhengshuo.

Speaking of which, in order to resist the covetousness of the four Nascent Soul powerhouses—Mumen Temple, Wofo Sect, Yijian Tower, and Wuxin Sect—the fifth-tier seal symbolizing the legitimacy of David also fell into the hands of the master of Lanmeng Palace.

Therefore, in the eyes of some people, whether Xuanqiong Palace or Lanmeng Palace is the legitimate successor is a matter of opinion and is indeed laughable.

Faced with this situation, Eunuch Wei could only sigh and expressed little optimism about the future.

If the first two matters require further consideration and cannot be rushed, then the fact that the number of eunuchs in the Imperial Horse Administration has not been fully increased is his fault as the head of the eunuchs, and he cannot easily shirk responsibility.

However, there are also thresholds for the Purification Army. Cultivators must first practice the Three Yangs Transformation into Yin technique to remove their dust handle, and then switch to the Kan Toad Swallowing the Moon technique, a superior technique that does not discriminate against missing dust handles or incomplete Dharma bodies, and can normally establish a foundation and reach the Nascent Soul stage. Only then can they be considered to have reached the threshold for the Purification Army.

If it cannot be repaired, then the dust handle will have faded in vain, and even ordinary cultivators will have no way to help it grow back.

Generally speaking, the number of cultivators who can complete this set of practices is less than one-third, so it cannot be considered an easy method to learn. Talented individuals are also hard to find; it is not an opportunity that can be easily obtained by just anyone.

Because of this law, few sons of high-ranking families came to the Inner Palace to seek a future, and most of the eunuchs who were promoted to high positions in the palace came from humble backgrounds.

Therefore, to be honest, although the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Guard differ by only one character, it goes without saying which one the Emperor trusts more. If a plan for addressing this shortage of personnel is not quickly devised, the Emperor will inevitably question it sooner or later.

“Hmm,” Wei Dajian thought of this and had an idea, “or we should think of some other ways.”

Compared to his predecessors in the inner court, Eunuch Wei was genuinely kind-hearted. Moreover, the current emperor was somewhat considerate of appearances when he acted. Therefore, at least when Eunuch Wei was the head of the eunuchs, he never did anything like forcibly detaining cultivators or filling up the quota of the net army.

As he tapped his knuckles on the table, producing a crisp sound, his gaze gradually shifted to the location of Shannan Road on the map:

"The battlefield on both sides is bound to fall apart, so let's add fuel to the fire and make it burn even brighter. Hmm, once the Duke of Qin takes action, the Imperial Horse Administration will have no shortage of volunteers."

————Yashuyuan
"Young Master Kang is truly remarkable,"

Fei Yeqing, who had finally figured out the course of the game, was delighted. The fact that he had a familiar place to stay in the prestigious Xuanqiong Palace showed how important this old cultivator was in the eyes of Emperor Wei.

Fei Yeyi had exceptional eyesight; without needing to examine him closely, she could tell that Kang Dabao had gained a great deal, and a genuine sense of joy welled up within her.

Then, the old ancestor carefully observed the latter's expression and asked with suspicion, "Have you been out for too long? Are you going back?!"

Sect Leader Kang had gained more trust in Fei Yeyi over this period, so he didn't hide anything and replied directly, "Reporting to the Ancestor, there are indeed some important matters in the sect that need to be resolved."

However, to Kang Dabao's slight surprise, Fei Yeyi not only did not dissuade him, but also seriously agreed, saying, "Hmm, that's appropriate. Although Shannan Road is dangerous now, it also holds many opportunities, so we must go back."

"Thank you, Ancestor. That lad will return to Yingzhou now and go back with my wife." Headmaster Kang had just finished bowing when Fei Yeyi waved his hand to stop him, saying calmly:
"There's no rush. Once I've settled this matter outside, I'll take your family back to the south of the mountain. My speed is comparable to that of a real person, and it will be faster than you getting there by taking the flying boat of Wanbao Trading Company."

"Is Ancestor Tianqin also going back?" Kang Dabao showed a hint of surprise on his face. Fei Yeyi nodded in response, "Not only that, the Hundred Fruit Secret Realm trial has also been completed recently. This time, Donggu will travel with you all to Shannan to help Nanying handle all the complicated matters." "Hundred Fruit Secret Realm," the Grand Master Kang murmured to himself before remembering, having almost forgotten about the two boys' trial there.

"The rankings of one person seventh and another ninth in this trial are quite good," Fei Yeyi said with an appreciative tone.

This is because Kang Dabao's two sons are still young. Originally, according to the wishes of many Fei family elders, promoting them to enter the secret realm could be considered forcing their growth. Even if it is to reward Headmaster Kang for his merits this time, it would be more appropriate to give them some spiritual items and supplies.

Unexpectedly, some of the elite members selected from the other branches actually failed under Kang Changyi and Kang Changxi. They will likely face a severe scolding from their elders when they return.

Hearing what the old cultivator said, Sect Leader Kang abandoned his idea of ​​immediately returning to the sect. Whether it was his long-lost Uncle Lian coming to find him or that troublesome situation that could be resolved in a day or two, things were all good for now. The only concern was that the aftermath of this fierce battle needed to be properly handled to avoid leaving any future problems.

At this point, Fei Yelin set up a chessboard again. He was in high spirits today, and seeing that Master Kang was staring intently at the chessboard, he invited the latter to join him in the discussion.

However, after Kang Dabao spoke with conviction and eloquence, offering a few words of advice about the chessboard, Ye Su's originally pleasant expression dimmed, and his brows furrowed slightly.

A few breaths later, the latter heard the noise and suddenly lost interest.

Suddenly, the old cultivator waved his hand, simultaneously drawing a superior quiet room within the elegant study, and then stopped the eloquent Sect Leader Kang from speaking, saying politely:
"Young Master Kang, the game of chess is but a minor skill; do not devote too much energy to it. Xuanqiong Palace is a superior place for cultivation; it should not be neglected or slacked off."

"This humble one will heed the teachings of the Ancestor!" Master Kang's face stiffened, and after lingeringly looking at the chessboard for a while, he finally entered the quiet room.

At this time, he had undergone a period of cultivation in the Moon Marrow Golden Ointment Pool, and his elixir body was now solidified. Reflecting that it would be difficult to see results from cultivation alone in a short period of time, he took out the newly acquired "Sword God Thorn" and studied it carefully.

As an item presented as a reward by Emperor Wei, who was openly seeking to win people's hearts, the "Shan Shen Ci" (Sword God Thorn) was certainly no ordinary object. Legend has it that Kuang Yufeng, the Northern King, cultivated this technique of attacking with divine sense to perfection before reaching the Golden Core stage.

At that time, he could dominate the battlefield even below the Nascent Soul stage, which also earned him the opportunity to advance to the True Person level and be granted the title of Sect King.

To be honest, the current emperor is quite meticulous.

Not long after Master Kang obtained the "Sword God Thorn" manual, he only read it briefly before realizing that this technique required little material but emphasized comprehension, which was very suitable for his current situation.

Thinking of this, he stopped sitting there and skillfully placed the three jade pendants in their respective positions. Kang Dabao also lightly made a hand seal, and the jade slip on his lap slowly unfolded, revealing its spiritual light.

Upon closer inspection, Master Kang noticed that this high-grade spiritual attack technique was also densely covered with annotations recorded by previous generations of practitioners.

He had also witnessed this kind of experience of discerning truths across the ages when he was in the Fei family. Every word and sentence in this classic text has been meticulously analyzed by many highly accomplished scholars, making the principles much clearer for those who come after.

However, while the result was important, the inspirational exchanges during the process were equally exhilarating for the relatively inexperienced Sect Leader Kang. The high-ranking cultivators above, citing scriptures and drawing on a wide range of sources, were, for Kang Dabao, no less than participating in a high-level sermon.

For any points that remain unclear, there are three jade pendants for further examination. Even the numerous commentaries that were later proven to be incorrect are not entirely without merit. If Headmaster Kang were to follow that line of thought and carefully study them for a while, he too could make some progress in various aspects.

After studying for several more days, Kang Dabao still had little grasp of the "Sword God Thorn" technique, a secret art of attacking with divine sense. However, after studying most of the annotations in the text, he had already benefited greatly.

However, when he saw a name at the end of the jade slip, a sharp glint appeared in Kang Dabao's small eyes, and he whispered, "Kuang Cheyun?"

Leihua Mountain and Sanxian Cave
The moment the sword blade sliced ​​through the rain, it reflected the lingering light of layers upon layers of talismans.

Amidst the torrential rain, a horrific wound was suddenly torn open in the chest of Master Chang of the Three Immortals Cave Garden by a fierce sword aura. His natal talisman was completely reduced to rotten paper, and his peach wood spirit sword had rotted away. He was in a truly wretched state.

Behind him was the sect's banner, which was mostly broken. The spirit-patterned cauldron, which the sect had acquired at a high price years ago with the full strength of the sect, had long since collapsed and was occasionally spewing out tongues of blue flame.

If disciples engaged in fierce combat are in the wrong position, it is only natural that they could be burned to a crisp.

The Chongming Sect's attack was indeed proceeding very smoothly. The leaders of the Three Immortals Cave had just received a message from Chu Han of the Hehuan Sect that the Qingjue and Chizhang Guards had already led the Chongming Alliance's allied forces, the local militia of the two counties, and the Songfeng Righteous Army, totaling 3,600 men, to the foot of Leihua Mountain.

While Yuan Jin's skillful command of troops was undoubtedly a major contribution, the strategic deployment of Ye Zhengwen and Zhou Yixiu also deserves recognition.

The previous preparations were indeed complicated and arduous, but they were not in vain. The other families in the surrounding area may have similar or even greater strength than Chongming Sect, but very few could accomplish such a great feat in such a short time.

As the strategist once said, "Those who are united in purpose will prevail." This holds true today.

Within a month of landing at the foot of Leihua Mountain, Chongming Sect had already broken the mountain-guarding formation of the Three Immortals Cave. Of the three alchemists, two escaped and one was injured, leaving only Yuan Chang, the man in front of Jiang Qing, still holding on.

However, at this moment, this extremely rare second-tier top-grade talisman master was also at a point where he could no longer continue.

With three Pill Master-level combatants—Jiang Qing, Xu Liuxian, and Bian Hu—taking turns serving them, it's quite remarkable that they've managed to hold out this long, given such good fortune.

As for turning the tide or saving a collapsing empire, it would be extremely difficult for Yuan Chang, an ordinary alchemist of average appearance, to accomplish such a feat.

Moreover, the Three Immortals Cave was originally a gathering of powerful figures, and there were many conflicts of interest among them. Where could one find even a trace of friendship among them?

Seeing that the situation was hopeless and that Chu Han, who had made a promise to the Three Immortals Cave, had not shown up, Yuan Chang gave up all hope and it was only natural that he would have the idea of ​​escaping.

However, this path to survival was not smooth. He had just found an opening in Xu Liuxian's fire technique when Bian Hu's magic weapon caught up with him. The magic robe covering him instantly tore open. Ignoring the pain, Yuan Chang continued to flee forward, only to be blinded by a dazzling sword light.

"It should be possible to avoid it."

Before the thought had even fully formed, Yuan Chang felt a chill on his neck. A flying sword, untouched by blood, hurled his enormous head onto Yuan Jin's banner, and the surrounding drummers immediately began to beat their drums.

The thunderous drumbeats, accompanied by the sound of the fake core being severed, made the cultivators of the Three Immortals Cave in front of the Chongming Sect tremble. Yuan Jin's rough roar also echoed throughout the arena: "Gentlemen, fight with your lives! Break this filthy sect as soon as possible, and celebrate our sect leader's Core Formation!"

(End of this chapter)